Rug-drying machine



1929. s. CHASE, 4TH,, ET AL ,74

RUG DRYING MACHINE Filed Jan. 15, 1926 J Wen/@715 5230/5677, (zd% E lit? Fatented @ee. 31, 1929 STATES amass PATENT orrica STHHEN OWE, 4TH, OF CHICAGO, AND BENJAMIN S. PFEIFFER, 0F WINNETKA, AS-

SIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 CHASE MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS RUG-DRYING MACHINE Application filed January 15, 1926. Serial No. 81,372.

This invention resides in improvements in apparatus for the drying of rugs and other heavy fabrics, as a part of a cleaning or renovating process.

A particular object of the invention is the provision of apparatus adapted to accomplish the rapid drying of the material incident to its progressive movement and without subjecting it to a temperature of such degree as maybe detrimental to it.

Another object is the provision 0t apparatus. which will impart to the fabric a desir-- able surface finish incident to the drying operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of apparatuswhich will take a rug or car et fabric immediately after it has been Sub ected to a washing or scrubbing operation, and deliver it properly finished and dried, in condition for use or delivery to a user.

Another obj ect of the invention is the provision of apparatus which is completely automatic in its operation, in that it requires no manual treatment or handling of a rug in the course of the drying procedure.

Another object is the provision of an apparatus which will automatically roll the dried and finished fabric in condition for delivery to a user.

Another object is the provision of apparatus having characteristics mentioned above and ada ted to handle rugs of different sizes, and di erent rugs in close succession, one after another.

A further object is the provision of ap aratus which may be designed to occupy re atively small floor space and at the same time possess a large output capacity.

Other and further objects of the invention will be pointed out hereinafter, indicated in the appended claims or obvious to one skilled in the art upon an understanding of the present disclosure. e

For the purpose of this application we illustrate and describe herein one form in which the invention may be embodied, but itis to be understood that the same is here presented for illustrative purpose only and is not to be accorded any interpretation having the effect of limiting the invention which We claim, short of its true and most comprehensive scope in the art.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration in th nature ofa longitudinal sectional elevation of a rug drying machine, I

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration in the nature of a part horizontal section such as taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, andt Fig. 3 is a detail in the nature of a part plan view of the rollino apparatus shown in' sectional elevation in ig. 1.

In the procedure for the cleaning and renovating of rugs, carpets and the like generally practiced in establishments engaged in that business, the rugs or carpets are subjected first to a dusting operation and then to a scrubbing treatment, with soap and water or other cleaning liquids, for the removal of the dirt and the brightening-of their decorative surfaces. This treatment leaves the fabric in a wet condition, necessitating its being dried. The customary procedure for drying,

generally practiced in such establishments, is to hang the ru or carpet in a drying chamber where it is su jected to a current of heated air. The time required forv drying a rug in this fashion is thus considerably more than the period required for the cleaning treatment. Consequently, the space required for the drying chamber and the length of time required to dry a rug im ose limitations on the output of the establis ment. Moreover, the handling and transportation of the rug from the place where it isScrubbed to the drying compartment exposes it to likelihood of its picking up dirt, because of its wet condition, and becoming soiled.

By virtue of the present invention, the drying procedure may be kept up to the speed of the cleaning procedure so that both may be carried on uninterruptedly. This results in a very pronounced increase in the output of the cleaning establishment, permitting it to rpn at all times at its maximum capacity.

Described generally, the invention, in one embodiment contemplates a drying cabinet having conveyors disposed therein so as to contact with the fabric.

carry the rug through the cabinet with a continuous progressive movement in a tortuous ath, and means for circulating heated air through the cabinet in contact with the rug, incident to its progressive movement. The conveying mechanism is so constructed as to leave substantially the entire surface of the rug exposed to the circulating air. Means is provided for giving the rug an undulating movement incident to its progressive travel, this for the purpose of opening the meshes of the fabric, separating and freeing the pile or nap surface portions which may have become matter or stuck together with the moisture, aiding in the penetration of the drying air into the fabric, and changing the air in All of these factors contribute to the rapid drying of the fabric to such a degree that all of the moisture may be removed the time the rug is discharged from the cabinet after its continuous progressive movement therethrough. The invention may be embodied in a structure very much smaller than that requisite for the ordinary drying chamber. At the end of the operation the rugs are delivered in a rolled up condition so that they may be taken away immediately for delivery. The nature of the invention may be understood more in detail by reference to the embodiment illustrated, wherein the reference numeral 10 designates the casing of a cabinet suitable for the confinement of heated air. This cabinet has a lateral entrance 10 near the top at one side, and a lateral exit opening 1O adjacent the bottom in the opposite side, which openings may extend substantially the entire width of the cabinet. The cabinet chamber is sub divided by horizontal partitions or baflles 11 into a. plurality of horizontal compartments, one above another, in each of which compartments operates a conveyor comprising grooved rollers 12 and continuous conveyor strands 14 supported on the rollers and guided' in the grooves thereof. These conveyor strands are suitable endless flexible members, made of chain, wire, light cable, or the like, and are spaced at suitable intervals. The rollers are provided with proper driving connections whereby they are rotated to transmit the strands, the strands of each conveyor traveling in the direction opposite to those of the conveyor in the compartment next above. The arrangement of the rollers is such that the end of one conveyor overhangs a portion of the conveyor in the next lower compartment, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1.

' per ro ler 17, together with a suitable trough 18 for catching and conducting away the At the entrance side of'the cabinet is disposed an water expressed from fabric fed between the rollers. The arrangement of the wringer mechanism is such as to deliver the fabric onto the external conveyor 15.

Under upper stages of conveyors within the cabinet are arranged the undulating or elevating devices comprising the plates 19, cam shafts 20 and cams 21. The plates 19 are pivoted at their ends so that they may swing through a vertical arc, and the cams cooperate with their lower surfaces to impart to them such swinging movement incident to the rotation of the cam shafts. As the plates are swung upwardly in this fashion, they raise the strands of the upper stages of the conveyors, said strands having, of course, suflicient slack to accommodate this movement. As the cams escape past the edges of the plates, the latter fall back to their lowered position. The result is to give the strands in the upper stages of the conveyors an un-,

dulating movement. Means is provided for injecting heated air into the end of the compartment which is next above the lowermost compartment of the chamber, said means being illustrated by the blower 22, and at the opposite end of the compartment next above this one is arranged means 24 for in ecting heated air thereinto. At the top of the cabinet are provided air outlets 25 and 26, one arranged above the upper stage of the uppermost conveyor, and the other having communication with the space below the upper stage of that conveyor. In front of the hot air inlet of the blower 24.- is arranged the finishing roller 27, which has a polished metal surface, and cooperating with this roller is the pressure roller 28, surfaced with a suitable friction material, suchas coarse cloth. The rollers 27 and 28 are provided with suitable driving means whereby they are rotated in opposite directions, the roller 28 at the same peripheral speed as the speed of the conveyors, and the roller 27 at slightly greater peripheral speed. The bite of these rollers is disposed under the end of the superacent conveyor. The conveyor in the lowermost compartment extends through the outlet opening 10 to the take-off guide 29 of the rolling mechanism. The latter comprises the parallel shafts 30, which are equipped with driving connections for turning them in the same direction. These shafts carry the rolling discs 31 which are in staggered overlapping relationship as shown in Fig. 3. Be tween the discs are mounted the flexible spring fingers 32, the upper ends of which curve upwardly and back toward the cabinet.

In the operation of the apparatus, the rug or fabric in its wet condition from the scrubbing operation, is passed between the wring-er rollers 16 and 17 and the greater proportion of the liquid expressed. From the wringer,

' which is operated at a speed synchronous with that of the conveyors, the rug is delivered to memes the external conveyor 15, by which it is elevated to the entrance opening 10 and delivered to the uppermost cabinet conveyor, lying outspread on the conveyor strands 14, with both its upper and lower surfaces exposed to the air in the uppermost compartment. Heated air meanwhile is forced into the lower compartments by the means 22 and.

24, traveling upwardly in the casing in a tortuous course from one compartment to another. When the forward edge of the rug passes over the end roller of the topmost conveyor, it passes into the subjacent compartment in a pendent position, and is there received on the upper stage of the conveyor in that compartment and transmitted back in the opposite direction. In this fashion the rug is transmitted from conveyor to conveyor and through the successive compartments. in the course of this travel it is subjected to contact with the heated air traveling in the opposite direction and the contained moisture evaporated. In the course of its travel on the respective conveyors it is given an undulatory movement by the periodic rocking of the kicker plates 19. This has the effect of loosening the pile and opening the meshes of the fabrimforbetter access of the drying air, and it also increases the penetration of the air into the fabric and agitates'the air so that there is a rapid continuous change of the air in contact with the fabric. The moisture laden air is rapidly drawn off through the outlets 25 and 26, the dry heated air being continuously supplied and taking its place. It will be observed that by virtue of the arrangement of the hot air supply, the air is supplied equally to both sides of the fabric in all ofthe compartments and rapid circulation of the heated air through the casing is accomplished. As a result of these several features the fabric is dried very rapidly so than by the time it reaches the finishing roller 27 it is thoroughly dried. In passing between the rollers 27 and 28, the former operates on the decorative surface of the fabric to give the pile or nap a uniform lie and finish which contributes materially to the appearance of the article. This roller, by virtue of its proximity to the heated air inlet, is maintained at a proper temperature to exercise the desired influence on the fabric. After passing through the next compartment, where it encounters the air of highest-temperature to insure complete dryness, it passes into the lowermost compartment which is not supplied with heated air'and is, therefore, more nearly the roomtemperature, to exercise a temperating influence on the fabric. From the lowermost compartment the fabric is carried out of the outlet opening 10 by the conveyor, and. fed to. the rolling device. As the margin of the fabric passes over the inner discs 31 and encounters the Outer discs,

it is deflected upwardly and turned back by the spring fingers 32, thus starting a roll which is continued, through the operation of the discs 31, until the entire rug has been rolled up, whereupon it is removed from the discs. As thus delivered by the apparatus, the rug is completely dried and ready for use upon being unrolled. It will be observed that the operation of this apparatus accomplishes a continuous progressive procedure, during which the rug is being steadily transmitted at a uniform speed. Because of the efficiency of the apparatus in accomplishing the drying, this speed of travel of the rug maybe maintained in synchronism with the speed at which a rug is transmitted thru a cleaning or scrubbing apparatus.

We claim:

1. Bug drying apparatus comprising, in

combination, a casing subdivided into compartments one above another, said compartments communicating serially at opposite ends, separate conveyors in juxtaposed compartments operating in opposite directions, said conveyors comprising spaced apart strands for supporting and transmitting a rug in outspread position, and means for introducing heated air into the casing on opposite sides of the path traveled by a rug in its course through the casing.

2, Bug drying apparatus comprising, in combination, a casing subdivided into communicating compartments, one above another, conveyors disposed severally in the compartments and arranged to deliver a rug from one compartment to another, said conveyors in cluding strands spaced apart for supporting a'rug in outspread condition, means for introducing heated air into the casing on opposite sides of a rug supported on the conveyors, the casing having air outlets communicating above and below the upper stage of the upper- 7 most conveyor.

3. In a rug drying apparatus, in combination, a casing, means for passing heated air through the casing, a conveyor in the casing, said conveyor comprising'traveling strands spaced apart and arranged to support a rug in outspread substantially horizontal position, and means for imparting undulating movement to the strands and rug in the course of their horizontal travel.

4. In rug drying apparatus, in combination, a casing, means for passing air through the casing, a conveyor for moving a rug in the casing, said conveyor including traveling strands for supporting the rug in outspread position, and means for flexing the rugvvith an undulatory movement while it is on the strands.

5. Bug drying apparatus comprising, in combination, a casing, means for passing heated air through the casing, a conveyor operating in the casing to transmit a rug in substantially horizontal direction, said conveyor including strands for supporting the rug in outspread position and means for giving the rug a vertical undulatory movement during its horizontal movement.

6. Bug drying apparatus comprising the combination of a cabinet, means for passing heated air through the cabinet, a conveyor in the cabinet, a Wringer, an external conveyor for transporting a rug in outspread position from the Wringer to the conveyor in the cabinet, and means for manipulating surface portions of the rug to raise the pile thereof While it is subjected to the heated air in the cabinet.

7. In rug drying apparatus, in combination, a cabinet, means for passing heated .air through the cabinet, a conveyor for moving the rug in the cabinet, means in the cabinet for raising the pile of the rug, and a laying device in the cabinet for smoothing the pile of the rug. i

8. In a rug drying apparatus, in combination, a cabinet, means for passing heated air through the cabinet, a conveyor for transmitting a rug in outspread position in the cabinet, a wringer, means for transporting a rug in outspread position from the Wringer to the conveyor, and means for raising the pile of a rug While subjected to heated air on the conveyor.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names.

STEPHEN'CHASE, 4TH. BENJAMIN SVPFEIFFER. 

